Call for green spaces to be safeguarded on Inverness development
Concerned residents campaigning to protect green spaces on an Inverness estate have asked a housing developer to rethink its expansion plans.
Highland councillors will consider a proposal ext week for 51 homes on two sites at Westercraigs. They will also consider an application to allow the fire-damaged former Craig Dunain Hospital to be turned into 56 luxury homes.
The applications, which are recommended for approval, are part of broader plan by Robertson Homes to build 550 properties on the 120-acre site for which it was granted outline planning permission in 2005.
The company is also seeking permission to extend the timescale for upgrading an access road and work on the former hospital building, Gleann Mor House. The council’s south area planning committee will visit the site on Monday before debating the issues on Tuesday.
But ahead of the meetings, the Westercraigs Community Group has sent a letter, accompanied by a petition with more than 100 names, to Robertson Homes asking it to reconsider part of the plans.
Residents stress they do not object to the proposals for the former hospital, or the majority of the proposed housing, but they are concerned about the loss of two green spaces including an area next to the roundabout at Foresters Way.
"These two spaces represent the only play areas for our children as there are none within our estate at Bishop’s View," they state.
"These two areas also border the access to the hillside beyond which is being used more as the access to the Great Glen Way, to walkers and to the general public who enjoy being outside in a beautiful part of the city."
They have asked the developer to consider an alternative area so the spaces can be preserved.
Campaigner Liz Devine, of Bishops View, said: "We don’t want to stop Robertson’s building and certainly we don’t want to stop them developing the hospital, but this is the only space for children to play."
She acknowledged the difficulties Robertson Homes had faced in the development of its plans but hoped the company would take into account the feelings of the community.
John Murphy, managing director of Robertson Homes, believed there was "ample" play space for children and insisted green space and woodland was central to the Westercraigs masterplan approved by Highland Council 11 years ago.
"The development has been designed to ensure residents of all ages have plenty of green space to enjoy, with views of the Caledonian Canal and surrounding hills," he said.
"Robertson Homes is also a great supporter of the Great Glen Way and we have worked hard to ensure open access for pathway users of all abilities.
"We believe, that with 150-acres of open space surrounding the current homes, there is ample grasslands on which children can play. We have also recently committed to building a secure multi-use play area for sports including basketball and football as well as a play park, with a mini zip wire, tarzan swings, monkey bars, wobbly walk and much more as part of our next phase of development.
"We are also committed to working with local residents to developing facilities elsewhere as the community grows."
